Martin Docherty-Hughes MP

Post Offices provide a vital lifeblood for local residents and small businesses. But the Tory UK government isn’t doing enough to protect our communities from the damaging impact of local branch closures – as evidenced by the difficulties caused by the ongoing ‘temporary’ loss of Post Office services in Hardgate. Our network of Post Office branches is run by Post Office Ltd on behalf of the UK government; a government which claims to be committed to safeguarding the vital services…

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Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has raised concerns with the Prime Minister about the ‘devastating impact’ being caused by the UK government’s rollout of Universal Credit. During an exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions, the SNP MP challenged Theresa May to ‘get a grip’ and take action to protect further families from being forced into crisis as a result of the Tories’ flagship welfare policy. The move follows warnings by welfare agencies that Universal Credit is set to impact up…

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Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has congratulated local group ‘Rag and Bone Projects’ for securing a grant of almost £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund. The West Dunbartonshire social enterprise, which aims to reduce waste and promote intergenerational skill-sharing, was successful in applying to the National Lottery’s ‘Awards for All Scotland’ for a funding award of £9,740. The group will use the funding to deliver workshops, repair cafes and information events focusing on upcycling and supporting local residents to…

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Martin Docherty-Hughes MP welcomed Loch Lomond Brewery to the House of Commons this week to showcase the local family firm’s popular craft beer in parliament. The MP for West Dunbartonshire invited the Alexandria-based brewers to parliament after securing a guest spot for its multi-award winning ‘Southern Summit’ pale ale in the Strangers’ Bar. Loch Lomond Brewery’s co-owner Euan MacEachern and sales manager George Wotherspoon were given a tour of the Commons, and presented with a certificate on behalf of the…

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Local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has welcomed the increased number of homes and businesses in West Dunbartonshire benefiting from access to superfast broadband. The SNP MP, who has been campaigning for better internet connectivity in West Dunbartonshire, has highlighted figures published by the House of Commons Library showing that local broadband speeds are 60% higher than the UK average. According to latest data available for West Dunbartonshire, 98.7% of local premises have access to superfast broadband following investment by the Scottish…

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Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has spoken out against the Prime Minister’s decision to launch airstrikes in Syria. The SNP MP, who is a Member of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said it was wrong for Theresa May to commit British forces to an escalation of military action without first getting a mandate from parliament or demonstrating a clear plan for delivering peace and security in the region. The comments come ahead of the Prime Minister’s statement to parliament…

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Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has demanded an urgent meeting with Post Office bosses after it was announced that Hardgate Post Office is to remain ‘temporarily closed’. The SNP MP said that the loss of the local Post Office, which has been closed since February 2017, has had an unacceptable impact on the communities of Hardgate, Faifley and Duntocher. Post Office Ltd, which runs the Post Office network on behalf of the UK government, said last year that it…

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Dumbarton’s historical significance to Scotland’s past is well established, but its links to the historic US district of Georgetown are perhaps less well known. Just a stone’s throw from the White House, at the heart of Washington DC, sit a number of notable landmarks including Dumbarton Bridge, Dumbarton House and Dumbarton Church. So how did this come to be? The Commons Defence Committee on which I sit is currently holding an inquiry into UK-US defence relations, examining the ‘Special Relationship’…

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